Taxol side effects
Hi all, I’m starting paclitaxel chemotherapy this week (once a week for 6 weeks). I’m wanting some insight into how I might feel. It’s a busy time of year and I’m a single mum. We have dance concerts and holidays booked. Is it like a hangover? Or more like a bad flu where I’ll struggle to get out of bed. What are the main things I will struggle with? I am going to do ice and to try avoid neuropathy and hair loss. Many thanks for your insights 🙏🏽
All set for chemo and suddenly a no go!
How does one cope when you’ve hyped yourself up to face up to your first round of chemo only to be stopped in your tracks and sent to hospital? I fronted up to the hospital to start the next stage of my journey and I knew I had a bit of a red mark on my left side scar, but didn’t think it would be an issue. WRONG. My chemo nurse took one look at my chest and immediately called the ward Doctor, he ordered lots of bloods and cultures to be done and then sent me over my surgeon’s rooms for her advice. The breast nurse took one look at my red and now puffy scared area and drained quite a lot of fluid off the area, my Surgeon came in, took one look and ordered me off to hospital. so now I sit in hospital receiving a broad spectrum antibiotics while we await the results of all the tests. How ripped off I’m feeling but I can also count my blessing that the infection popped out just before chemo and not a day or so after. just another part of this damned emotional roller coaster ride I’ve been battling I guess.
Struggling through Chemo
Hi all, My nurse has just introduced me to this group. I’m hoping to connect and share my story and hopefully somehow feel better. After being diagnosed and a short time later having a mastectomy and all lymph nodes removed, chemo started just before Christmas and I am struggling with it! Ive got another 2 months of chemo before 5 weeks of Radiation…… would love to hear other stories. I have a fantastic support group of family, friends and colleagues but they just can’t possibly understand what I’m going through. Looking forward to connecting 😊Recommendations-North Brisbane -Public v Private- Surgeons
Hi Everyone, I do hope everyone is travelling as well as they can be. Was hoping to hear of experiences and recommendations about Public v Private -North Brisbane. My GP has advised if I choose to go private then I need to find surgeon and they can send referral. Not sure where to start…have rang some surgeons, am feeling like I am looking for a needle in a haystack. Has anyone had experiences with going private and having significant out of pocket expenses? Or going Public and what wait times/facilities are like, that they are comfortable in sharing. Preliminary advice is that it is likely treatment will be Chemotherapy then surgery, nothing confirmed until appointment with surgeon.
Early HER2+
I understand what Early is and I am grateful that I found something at the same time as my breastscreen mammogram and it is not in lymph glands, PET was also clear but they need a new name for Early. My treatment is starting 9/10 and will be Chemo (abraxane) & hercepton then surgery and radiation. I thought I had choice after doing a lot of research on trusted websites, listening to great podcasts and asking questions of my MDT but although they say I do they highly recommend the above plan. I am resolved to losing my hair and looking forward to the freedom no hair should bring me, I am self employed so can regulate my hours, I am active and look forward to keeping that going, as I know how good it makes me feel and again research shows, it helps us through chemo and everything else. What I struggle with is seeing others reactions to the news and seeing my husband frustrated by the time it takes to have tests and get things started. I would delay treatment even longer if I could but know that is not a good decision as the HER2+ is a grade 3. With a name like Early people seem to think 🤔 I will have an easy run, and I certainly hope I do but have read enough to know that I may not. People also say oh that’s good it’s not urgent then and not that bad. For someone who limits toxins as much as one can this is testing my self control to the limits and then having people say and think 🤔 it is going to be an easy road does not sit well with me. I am babbling and that is certainly something that has happened since diagnosis. I spent 24 hours in denial and 24 hours in why and have decided to tell only positive supportive people going forward and focus on things I can control and leave the rest to my team. thankyou for letting me rant and thankyou for all your encouraging posts and links which I have loved. Let’s kick this tumours out of here x
Considering EndoPredict before accepting Chemo
Hi everyone, I did a search and this topic hasn't been mentioned in a while since 2023. The main difference seems to be that EndoPredict ($2980) is now eligible for partial Medicare rebate ($1103). However, it is still a considerable cost for many of us. I'm having to decide whether to take the test and hope that maybe the outcome could be that Chemo is not of benefit to me. Going by what the medical oncologist told me it is doubtful that Chemo would not benefit me - the use of "aggressive" to describe my stage 3 cancer makes me think that. Though he did still mention the testing to me so I had a choice. I'm torn and scared. With my previous cancer (liposarcoma) I didn't have Chemo so it is an unknown scary beast. My two main concerns with Chemo are the heart and bone damage risks. I get that the decision to have the test is a very personal one and nobody can make that choice for me. For me it isn't just financial, the main choice is whether I consider Chemo is worth it. Even if the test comes out a low percentage for recurrence, is that enough for me to say no to Chemo? After all, the test is the risk of recurrence in 10 years and personally, I'm now on cancer number 2 (different types) in a 14 year period. Have many of you have taken the test? Or would you take it now that it is partially rebated by Medicare? Thank you for reading and being sounding boards.
Mets now in my brain
Hi Everyone my latest scan has been a shock and made me sad. I was on enhurtu and hoping for big success. However after 4 round 2 of my liver mets increased and now i have mets in the right side of my brain. I fell over in the last treat cycle and got a black eye and I also fainted one night. Luckily the bed was beside me when I fainted. My oncologist phoned me with my results Friday and I am numb. She said the plan is this. I get a port monday, tues chemo, thurs I have a skin check (melanomas) and the oncologist is ordering an mri of the brain for my radium oncologist. I don't have an appointment yet but the plan is to radiate that brain met. Then I have one other enhurtu infusion in September and another scan. My oncologist tells me there is other chemo we can try and the brain mets will be treated with radium. My husband and I are in shock and sad. My mets has progressed so fast - 2 yrs and several treatment changes already. This is so hard.What The Heck Radiation and Chemo? What to do and the side effects, are freaking me out.
In July, I had a mastectomy with lymph nodes out, then they found cancer somewhere else in the body with completely no relation to the breast cancer. If the breast cancer wasn't enough. So, now I have to deal with the other cancer site, which is colorectal, and I have just had an appointment with the radiation and chemo doctors at Royal Brisbane Women's, and I don't mind admitting I'm freaking out. The side effects of the 50/50 cure seem to be so much worse than the actual disease. Yes, I know that the disease, if left to run riot, equals, you know. But, after all these years of funding and funding, why do we not have something better? It's so weird that since my surgery, I have had posts popping up on my socials left right, and centre. Like the "Cure from Japan with Bee Venom" seriously makes me want to find a hive and fly into one with wanton abandon. A "Breakthrough in South Korea, scientists can turn cancer cells back to normal cells," .. Say WHAT? (frantically looking up flights to S Korea) Then there is Ivermectin, Febendazole, and something blue? I mean, I have never paid attention to these things before, but now, my ears prick to the slightest twitch and rustle, like a kid who hears a lolly bag open within a 10-mile radius. I can't help it, I am confused about everything, am I the only one? When I confronted the chemo doctor about all of my concerns and questions, he said If you don't do this, you will be in palliative care in 3 months .. What, hang on what the heck???? I mean, just like that, he said that without any pause or thought, I was never advised that before, and then said, "Whatever you decide, we start therapy on the 28th July, and proceeded to walk out. This journey is brand new; everything has happened since July, and it is no lie, akin to riding a faulty wooden roller coaster with loose nuts, bolts, and rotting timber, operated by a maniacal, crazy clown, in the middle of a thunderstorm, who looks like he has been dragged through a hedge backwards. Just to clarify, the clown is the cancer. I have questions, a thousand of them, with no end of these questions in sight. Where are the natural alternative therapies, like, singing bowls, or is humming drums? What about the milk from an Aztec goat? Yeah, or the petals from a rare flower that only grows on top of some hidden temple in the Amazonian forest, which, on recent reading, is currently swarming with giant anacondas in a breeding frenzy, ugh! Ok, I made up the goat and flowers. No, there is only radiation and chemo. Sigh! I don't know what to do with this option. I have been told my cycle will be 28 days straight of radiation with chemo. I can look forward to a burning bum hole, diareah, burnt skin, possible issues with legs and bladder, and kidneys, and all sorts of other stuff. However, I was told that everyone is different and responds differently. Well, I have to say I don't feel that comforted at all. I am overwhelmed. If anyone can share with me their experience with radiation and chemo, I would love to hear from you. And if anyone knows where I can get my hands on an AZTEC goat in Brisbane, I would love that too!! Goats are ravenous but cute.
Is there a window period that chemo should start?
I was recently diagnosed with IDC - had lumpectomy and 2 sentinel nodes removed in first surgery on 17th June, in one section of the margin they found DIS right to the edge so needed 2nd surgery 2 weeks later which was all clear thankfully. Was due to start chemo 2 weeks after that however developed post surgery infection and was in hospital for 4 days, chemo has been delayed another 3 weeks so its been quite a while since my first surgery. I'm concerened about the delay, has this happened to anyone else?
